Z FOLD CHRISTMAS CARD

Z FOLD CHRISTMAS CARD

Here is another example of the z fold card (the "right" way up this time).

Tania has covered each panel with decorative paper, leaving a small border around each, and added detail with die-cuts, stickers and pearls.  I won't go through each bit as you can see for yourself what she has done, although it is worth noting the Christmas baubles on the middle panel.

A triangle with scalloped edged backing has been added to the front and this draws attention to the greeting, as well as the fold of the card. The use of non-traditional colours is also worth noting.  Christmas cards don't HAVE to be green, red, white and gold!

THE OPENED CARD

Z FOLD CHRISTMAS TREE CARD

INVERTED Z FOLD CARD

Regal sells these Z-fold cards in red, white and ivory as well as forest green.  Not every one wants a super-quick card, and although these could be a speedy project, there are lots of panels to decorate if you prefer to take your time.

Marilyn has had a really good idea, and literally turned the card upside down.  By adding the thick-cut gold tree (available from Regal) to the smallest panel, the card is well-balanced and won't fall over easily when it's sat up for display.

Marilyn has used pieces from a Sparklelight 3D for embellishment (you could make your own presents with dies or just rectangles of card or decorative paper and bows), as well as stickers and tartan ribbon.

The thing I like most about this card (apart from the fact that I always appreciate alternatives to the "right way") is how nicely it sits with the presents displayed both in front, and behind the tree for a great 3d effect.

EACH PANEL

CHURCH WINDOW CARD

CHRISTMAS CUT OUT CARD

How's this for a quick Christmas card idea.  Regal make a wide variety of three panel cut out cars.  This one is XNO14 - church window, but there are Christmas trees, bells, holly, and lots of other novelty shapes in addition to more usual shapes such as rectangles, ovals and hearts.  Have a look on their website for the full range.

Although you can use these cards in a variey of  ways for iris folding, stitching, photos and more, this card illustrates a simple example that you can make quite quickly using decorative paper inside the aperture, a cut out shape on top (the gold bell is available pre-cut from Regal but you could diecut something yourself) and a sticker or, as in this case, a "lef-over" from a 3D picture.  As an alternative to the latter you might want to consider an alternative die-cut, flowers,a bow or some pre-made embellishments.

CENTRE STEP CHRISTMAS CARDS

CENTRE STEP CARD - EXAMPLE 1

These cards look quite complicated but fortunately aren't as difficult as they look because almost all the components are available aready cut.

The red stepper cards are from Regal Craft Cards (STE5).  (They are also available in white).  The silver tree is also from there, as are the clear Christmas Greetings, which in the first example, has been stuck onto acetate, and in the second onto silver card, so they "pop" off the card.  The photos really don't do justice to the three dimensional nature of these cards.

I was away when these cards were made, but I know that Marilyn made the example with the tree so I'm guessing the first example, featuring the deer and tree die (Paper Rose) is her work too?
(I'll let you know if I'm wront.)

CENTRE STEP CARD - EXAMPLE 2

CHRISTMAS CARDS WITH SPARKLELIGHT STICKERS

CHRISTMAS CARDS WITH SPARKLELIGHT STICKERS

When time is of the essence, stickers are a really handy addition to your cards.  You can, of course, just put them on the front of a single fold card and use them "as is", but if you have a little extra time you can give your cards a special individualised look.

Marilyn has made these two Christmas cards which illustrate how, with the addition of a few papers, stickers and ribbon, you can make cards that have a little more craftwork in them but no so much that you wouldn't still have time to make several before Christmas arrives!

A good range of Sparklelight stickers and lots of different coloured base cards are all available from Regal Craft Cards.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

JUPITER SHIMMER CHRISTMAS CARDS

If you haven't already made your Christmas cards, here are a couple of pretty examples (made by Tania) for inspiration.

The limited edition Jupiter Red base cards are available from Regal Craft Cards.  The embossing folder and papers are by Kaiser, but you could substitute them for any other papers that  co ordinated with red shimmer card.

Use the dies that are already in your stash for further embellishment, or treat yourself and come into Regal for some new craft supplies!

HOLLY CHRISTMAS CARD

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS CARD

OK, so if you are still making cards by this time of the year you are after something super quick to finish, and here it is!

Sharon has used a Regal holly cut-out card, put some patterned green paper underneath, and then added some gold greeting stickers and stars and a few red rhinestones and well....it's finished!

Unfortunately Regal will not be re opening until January 2nd but its an idea to keep in mind if you have to make a lot of cards next year, or if perhaps you'd just like to get the Christmas Cards out of the way in January.

Just think how proud of yourself you can feel for the rest of the year, especially in December when many more of us are in panic mode!

CHRISTMAS TREE CARDS

CHRISTMAS TREE CUT OUT CARDS

By this time of year, if you haven't already made your cards its time to get busy.

These two examples are both quick to make and really pretty too.

Sharon has used a gold base card.  You can buy gold cards in both single and three panel versions from Regal (which is also where the foiled white paper came from), or if you are in a huge hurry, you can get cards with the tree already cut out in white, red or green.

Sharon has put paper under the cut out panel of one card and used the shape for the other.  She has crimped the tree, but you could equally well emboss it, decorate it in other ways or just leave it plain. Adhesive pearls and fabric stars comple the cards.

If you are well prepared and use pre-cut cards,  you could just about finish both of these in under ten minutes - great if you still have a lot of cards to make before the big day!

PHOTOSLOT CHRISTMAS CARD

Postcard Christmas Card

Sharon has combined a few elements to make this super-quick Christmas card.

First take a postcard (this one is available from Regal, as is the base card), slot it into a photoslot card.  Add (optional) decoration and off you go!

Regal's photo slot cards are designed to take a 6" x 4" (15cm by 10cm) photograph so if you have something special that you want to share it's still not too late to get some printed and posted for Christmas.

It's the ideal "handmade" card when you don't have time to make a handmade card!

TWO DIFFERENT STACKER CARDS FOR CHRISTMAS

TRADITIONAL STACKER CARD

These cards show a couple of different ways to assemble a stacker card - the traditional approach of stacking the layers one on top of the other from largest to smallest, and an alternative which is to do the same but to offset each layer a little (as shown in the bottom card).

The white card is one of Regal's lattice cards, folded a little differently to usual, whilst the brown card is a Kraft brown singlefold square, also from Regal.

The stacked designs are both off the same sheet (HA111), which, as you have probably guessed already, is currently in stock exclusively at Regal Craft Cards.

OFFSET STACKER CARD

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIA

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIA

If you haven't already taken care of the Christmas card situation for overseas friends and relatives, you need to start giving the situation some serious thought now.

As time is of the essence, another quick card from Sharon is in order.

Regal make these Australia cut out cards in three colours - white, green and ivory, so all you need to do is pop some pretty paper in the aperture and embellish if desired (Sharon has used a paper poinsettia and leaves from Green Tara).

This card has been made in traditional Christmas colours but you could go for an outback palette of ochre, gold and burnt orange if you wanted something really different, and add a die-cut Australian animal or plant (Ultimate Crafts make some good ones) as embellishment.

Regal do some state cards as well, so if you want to be very geographically specific its worth contacting them to ask about availability.  I know that there are certainly Tasmania cut-outs.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT CARD

CHRISTMAS PRESENT CARD

As you've probably guessed by now, Sharon did the Christmas demonstration for Regal Craft Cards back in September, and we can now all enjoy a selection of her cards.

This is another quick card - just the sort of thing that's needed as Christmas gets closer.

She has placed a piece of decorative paper under the cut-out of one of Regal's square windowpane card (XSWP2), and covered the central cross with strips of shiny metallic paper, to make a "present."

A paper bow finished the project.  Sharon has cut her own, but you could use a diecut or even real ribbon as an alternative.

You could easily adapt this card for many different occasions simply by changing the colour choice.

FREESTYLE CHRISTMAS TREES

CHRISTMAS TREE CARD

Here's another one of Sharon's fun Christmas Cards.

She has cut the trees and ground freehand (no template required), stuck them to the white basecard, and then added some stars and a greeting from a peel-off sticker pack and its done!

If you have the materials at hand, you can make this card in just a few minutes and its a great way to use up leftovers from the paper stash.

CHRISTMAS PUDDING GIFT WRAP

Front View

Side View

Sharon made this easy but effective Christmas wrap by cutting one of Regal's Cupcake Cards (XSNO3) in half and adding an middle panel to make the base and the top tie.    It would make the perfect wrap for sweets or a cupcake or even a small box of special tea.  You could put the gift in a clear bag (also available from Regal), punch a hole in the top and tie it in the centre for additional security.

Sharon has covered the bottom part of the cupcake with scrapbooking paper, added red mirror card to the cherry and used peel-off stickers to decorate the top, to finish her cheery christmas pudding card

VERY QUICK CARDS FOR CHRISTMAS

Well, if you're still making Christmas cards now, I'm assuming you're in a bit of a rush so these three cards from Marty will hopefully provide the inspiration you need.

Regal is closed for the Christmas break from today until January 3rd so sadly you won't  be able to rush down for paper, but raid your collection and you might be pleasantly surprised.  It doesn't have to be completely Christmassy - just using red green and gold can reference the season.

Use Marty's example as "card sketches" and off you go!  The time starts now...............

CHRISTMAS GIFT CARDS

A BOX OF CHRISTMAS GIFT CARDS

Sharon has decorated a plain white box and filled it with little gift cards, featuring Kaier's "Frosted" papers, and a variety of small embellishments.

These are just perfect for labelling presents, but also make a great gift in themselves.  You don't have to stick to a Christmas theme as gift cards are useful all year round!

Just a reminder for those last minute shoppers, Regal will be closed next Friday and Saturday, so if you need gift vouchers or presents, shop early.  Regal re opens on Tuesday January 3rd.

MORE PRETTY PICKPOINT CARDS

PICKPOINT CARDS FOR CHRISTMAS

You might just have time to make these before Christmas if you start right now, but if not, if you have some time to relax in the next few weeks. why not get started super early for next year.  All the supplies are available from Regal.

A big thankyou to Sandra Bell, who has generously allowed me to share her beautiful work throughout the year.

TWO MORE CHRISTMAS CARDS TO MAKE

ANOTHER QUICK CHRISTMAS CARD

MERRY AND BRIGHT

This is a very different look to last weeks cards, but the same idea applies - choose some patterned paper and let it guide your card design.  Marilyn has added some matting and trim to Kaiser papers on Regal base cards for these quick cards - another example of how Christmas is not longer defined by strictly traditional colours.

CALENDAR AND CHRISTMAS CARDS WITH PATTERNED PAPER

SIDESTEPPER CALENDAR

Marty made these using Regal craft cards as bases, and papers from the Kaiser Christmas Wishes Collections.

No difficult techniques here - just a good eye for composition and neat cutting!  You can have similar results with any decorative paper of your choice, using Marty's work as a template.

THREE QUICK CHRISTMAS CARDS

TWO QUICK CUT OUT CARDS

CHRISTMS TREE CUT OUT CARD

Its the end of November, and hence I'm continuing to feature really quick and easy Christmas Cards.

These two use aperture cards from Regal Craft Cards.  The Christmas tree has some sparkly paper and mesh trim underneath the cut-out, with an adhesive padded star on the top.  The bauble just has some gold paper and a sticker, placed on an angle to match the bauble.  Oh yes, and a red bow (pre-made so no fiddly bits to grapple with).

CHRISTMAS BAUBLE CUT OUT CARD

Both cards are finished with stickers and are super fast to make.  The bauble is only available in white but the tree comes in red and green as well, plus the cut-outs are with the card so you can use them on other projects.